Not Another CEO Podcast

What does it take to lead lasting change in an organization? Alan Masarek, a multi-time CEO with a track record of company turnarounds, shares the lessons he’s learned from transforming brands like Vonage and Avaya. In this in-depth conversation, Alan talks about building high-performing teams, the power of clear communication, succession planning, and how to lead authentically across companies of every size. Takeaways:There’s No “One Thing” — But Culture Comes Close: Alan explains that success doesn’t come from a single action but a combination of choices: pursuing winnable markets, building strong teams, and creating cultures rooted in openness, honesty, and transparency.Clear, Simple, & Repetitive Communication: He emphasizes the necessity of repetitive messaging to reinforce confidence and direction within an organization. Regardless of the company size, developing the habit of effective communication early is crucial for long-term success.Transforming Vonage Meant Facing Reality: At Vonage, Alan led a shift from residential telephony to business communications. He dismantled internal divisions, repositioned the company, and made hard but necessary cultural changes by being direct about who was driving growth and who wasn’t.People Follow Leaders, Not Titles: Alan emphasizes hiring smart, high-integrity people and focusing on the top two layers of the organization. He looks for utility players with CEO potential, not just narrow specialists.Avoiding the Trap of Over-Reporting: When he arrived at Avaya, a 77-slide weekly report deck had become the norm. Alan reduced this dramatically, advocating for consistent, actionable metrics that focus on real business health rather than satisfying a process.Private Equity Dynamics Can Clash with Strategy: Alan reflects on the challenges of navigating fund timelines and liquidity needs, especially in private equity-backed companies. He notes that these dynamics can often push leaders toward short-term decisions at odds with long-term business goals.Leadership Isn’t About Work-Life Balance — It’s About Fulfillment: Alan shares his view that if you love what you do, work-life balance becomes irrelevant. He encourages young professionals to build wide foundations early in their careers by learning as much as they can, as fast as they can.Quote of the Show:" Our job as leaders is to lay that picture out clearly... 'cause all too often we ask people to achieve what they can't imagine." - Alan MasarekLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-masarek-1aa1a8a8/Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/amasarekWebsite: https://www.avaya.com/en/Ways to Tune In:Substack: https://notanotherceo.substack.com/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #AvayaChapters:00:00 Intro01:43 Alan Massek's Leadership Philosophy05:45 The Importance of Communication in Leadership07:20 Transforming Avaya: A Case Study10:23 Challenges and Strategies in Business Transformation17:03 Vonage Transformation: From Residential to Business Communications28:50 Hiring and Building High-Performing Teams40:22 The Importance of CEO Succession Planning41:46 Navigating Acquisitions: Strategies and Insights48:49 The Role of Private Equity in Modern Business54:09 Life After Stepping Down as CEO56:20 Leadership and Mentorship: Keys to Success01:06:02 Work-Life Balance and Return to Office01:14:28 Advice for Young Professionals01:17:26 Outro

What does it take to build a pioneering luxury lingerie brand? In this episode, Jennifer Zuccarini, Founder and CEO of Fleur du Mal, shares her journey from launching her second company in the lingerie space to creating a brand celebrated by celebrities and top fashion publications. Jennifer opens up about key moments in her entrepreneurial path, including nurturing team culture, expanding product lines, and overcoming financial hurdles. She also discusses the importance of community-building, the challenges of retail expansion, and the creative satisfaction that drives her forward. Takeaways:Staying True to the Vision: Jennifer explains that her original idea for Fleur du Mal remains core to what the brand is today. She emphasizes the importance of holding onto that original creative inspiration while evolving with new trends and consumer expectations.Focusing on Team Culture: Jennifer underscores the importance of investing in team culture. She admits that early on, she was more focused on building the brand, but now she emphasizes team recognition. Initiatives like 'employee of the season' and regular team outings, such as Spring Equinox parties and personalized birthday celebrations, have helped create a strong, appreciative team environment.Overcoming Financial Challenges: Jennifer reveals a critical moment two years into Fleur du Mal when the company almost ran out of money. She borrowed funds from investors and had to delay payroll, which resulted in losing much of her team. Despite the setback, she managed to rebuild the company, describing it as the most challenging period in her professional life.Passion for Product and Brand: Jennifer highlights her deep passion for product design and brand building, taking personal involvement in every aspect from approving email marketing to attending every product fitting.Innovative Products and Methods: She details the challenges and strategies involved in creating and marketing new products, especially within the constraints of advertising restrictions on platforms like Google and Meta.Retail Expansion and Community Building: Jennifer discusses the strategic expansion of Fleur du Mal’s retail footprint. By leveraging data from their strong online business, they identify ideal locations for new stores to build community and enhance customer experience. Personal and Professional Growth: Reflecting on her career, Jennifer values the importance of appreciating the journey. She advises founders to find satisfaction in their daily work and to recognize that building something meaningful takes time and effort.Quote of the Show:" I think the best brands really have a very strong point of view that they stick to all the time." - Jennifer ZuccariniLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferzuccarini/Twitter (X): https://x.com/jzuccariniWebsite: https://fleurdumal.com/Ways to Tune In:Substack: https://notanotherceo.substack.com/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #FleurduMalChapters:00:00 Intro01:33 Building a Strong Team Culture05:21 Passion for Product and Brand06:27 Challenges in Brand Building14:54 Expanding Product Lines18:27 Navigating Marketing Restrictions26:22 Engaging with the Community28:48 The Power of Authenticity in Business29:24 Expanding Retail Strategy29:41 Balancing Retail and Online Presence30:41 Challenges of Retail Expansion31:37 Future Plans and Team Building34:20 Overcoming Financial Challenges37:53 Lessons from Transparency and Team Loss42:08 Entrepreneurial Spirit and Family Influence44:48 Mentorship and Role Models46:58 Drive and Motivation51:17 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs54:53 Outro

How do you grow a podcast into a true platform for founders and CEOs? In this solo episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis reflects on Q1 2025 and shares a behind-the-scenes look at what's next for the show. From launching a Substack and partnering with Nick Freund to rethinking content distribution and recording locations, David breaks down what's working, what he’s learning, and the goals for the next quarter.Ways to Tune In:Substack: https://notanotherceo.substack.com/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #DavidPolitisChapters:00:00 Intro00:42 Launch of Not Another CEO Substack03:07 Partnership Announcement: Joining Forces with Nick Freund05:31 Reflecting on Goals and Achievements09:58 Looking Ahead: Goals for Q212:26 Outro

What happens when passion, persistence, and curiosity meet the brutal realities of startup life? In this Failing Forward edition of Not Another CEO Podcast, Nick Freund sits down with Anthony Corletti, a seasoned technical founder and former CEO of Casa, to unpack his entrepreneurial journey. Anthony shares hard-won lessons from building, and ultimately shutting down, his company, discusses frameworks like the "Founder’s Care-o-Meter" and the "Personal Board of Advisors," and reflects on how founding has shaped his broader life perspective. Takeaways:The Spark for Entrepreneurship: Anthony shares how working closely with rideshare drivers during his early startup days ignited his passion for solving real-world problems through tech, and how the immediacy of feedback fueled his love for early-stage building.What Drives a Technical Founder: For Anthony, the excitement lies in scaling impact, solving one user's problem in a way that could eventually benefit thousands. His love of learning and "always day one" mindset continues to push him forward.The Lightbulb Moment for Casa: A podcast analogy about how context transforms perception inspired Anthony to rethink how engineering workspaces could better integrate product and design teams, leading to the idea behind Casa.Introducing the Founder’s Care-o-Meter: Anthony explains the framework he created to check his conviction at different stages of building Casa. He tracked whether he still felt a "hell yes" about the mission and scored his emotional connection to the problem versus the solution every six weeks.Building a Personal Board of Advisors: Anthony stresses the importance of surrounding yourself with trusted confidants, from family to expert mentors, who can offer honest feedback, accountability, and different perspectives throughout the founder journey.Knowing When to Shut Down: Anthony candidly describes how feedback from pilot customers, competitive insights, and introspection via the Care-o-Meter helped him make the difficult but clear-eyed decision to wind down Casa.Founding and Life Philosophy: Anthony reflects on how founding has shaped his view of service, resilience, and embracing life's unexpected opportunities. His future focus is simple: prioritize the people you work with and the problems you solve.Quote of the Show:" Experience is what you get when maybe you didn't get what you wanted… being able to share that with [future founders] is such a critical point, and it's super important." - Anthony CorlettiLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonycorletti/Twitter (X): https://x.com/anthonycorlettiWebsite: https://www.anthonycorletti.com/Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #CasaChapters:00:00 Intro04:14 Anthony's Journey and Early Career09:10 The Inspiration Behind Casa14:51 The Founder's Care-o-Meter19:49 Building a Personal Board of Advisors25:57 Facing Initial Challenges26:57 Pivoting and Feedback27:31 Connecting with Industry Leaders29:28 Emotional Journey of a Founder31:01 Reflecting on Key Decisions33:06 The Importance of Co-Founders33:46 Customer-Centric Product Development36:16 The Role of Luck in Success38:46 Balancing Life and Founding39:42 Founder's Philosophy and Future Plans45:55 Where To Next?48:24 Outro

How do you scale a company to $200 million+ in ARR while maintaining deep empathy for the customer? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis sits down with Todd Olson, the Founder and CEO of Pendo, to find out. Todd shares the values and rituals that helped him scale Pendo into a product-led powerhouse, including his unwavering commitment to customer-centricity, his direct approach to hiring, and the operating cadence that keeps his nearly 900-person team aligned. Todd reflects on the highs, lows, and philosophies that have guided his journey. Takeaways:Customer Obsession as a Foundational Value: Todd emphasizes how being “maniacally focused on the customer” has guided every stage of Pendo’s growth. From answering support tickets himself in the early days to personally monitoring feedback as CEO, he’s created a culture where customer empathy cascades through every department.Every Hire Must Talk to Customers: Todd shares a hiring principle he’s followed since day one: only hire people you'd trust on the phone with a customer. This standard shaped Pendo’s culture, even affecting how they screen engineers, ensuring they’re willing and able to engage directly with users.Personally Interviewing Hundreds: At one point, Todd personally interviewed every employee… almost 800 people. Beyond vetting talent, it was a powerful tool for maintaining cultural consistency and calibrating hiring managers across the org. He also ran 90-day check-ins with new hires to ensure expectations matched reality.Product Leadership Rooted in Vision: Though product leadership has evolved at Pendo, Todd has remained deeply involved in product vision and strategy. He describes how he stays hands-on with design sessions, brainstorming new features, and ensuring Pendo’s tools meet the high bar of product teams building for product teams.Disciplined Operating Rhythm: Todd credits much of Pendo’s success to a consistent cadence of planning and communication. Annual and quarterly planning rituals, town halls, and regular team offsites help align the company around shared goals and keep stress in check during turbulent times.Built in Raleigh, Built to Last: Despite early pressure to move to Silicon Valley, Todd built and scaled Pendo out of Raleigh, North Carolina. He shares how the local ecosystem shaped the company and how hiring executives from outside the region helped them compete on a national scale while staying grounded in local roots.Quote of the Show:"Nearly every product is like, strongly opinionated, meaning when you use it, you feel like it has a point of view that it’s trying to impart." - Todd OlsonLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddaolsonTwitter (X): https://x.com/tolsonCompany Website: https://www.pendo.io/Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #PendoChapters:00:00 Intro01:23 The Importance of Customer Obsession02:34 Early Days and Customer Engagement04:57 Hiring for Customer Focus08:39 Personal Stories and Career Reflections11:27 Interviewing Every Employee18:24 Product Evolution and Ideal Customer Profile26:19 Operating Rhythm and Business Cadence34:53 Adapting and Planning for Long-Term Success37:17 Biggest Challenges Faced at Pendo43:56 Future Vision for Pendo47:00 Early Career and Entrepreneurial Spark53:49 Building a Business in Raleigh56:59 Balancing Family and Business01:02:55 Outro

What happens when you combine relentless focus with long-term trust and bootstrapped grit? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis chats with Sean Griffey, the co-founder and former CEO of Industry Dive, a digital media company that went from humble beginnings to a $500M+ acquisition.Sean dives into how simplicity became his core operating principle, the creative strategies behind building a strong team, and why bootstrapping gave him the ultimate freedom. He also opens up about co-founder dynamics, the emotional challenges of scaling leadership, and finding clarity after stepping down. Takeaways:Start with Simplicity, Scale with Clarity: Sean shares how simplicity became a guiding principle across operations, sales, and product. By constantly asking “How can we make this easier?”, Industry Dive streamlined execution and scaled effectively across 30 different markets.The Coffee Challenge That Built Culture: To foster cross-team collaboration, new hires were given a $50 coffee stipend and a list of quirky and strategic questions to ask people outside their department. This initiative not only built early camaraderie but also helped break down silos before they could form.Bootstrapping with Intent (and $400K): While Industry Dive raised a small angel round, Sean considered the business bootstrapped and didn’t pay himself for 18 months. He talks about resisting early VC offers in favor of building profitably and why media businesses need time, not acceleration.Strategic Exit Through Private Equity: Sean shares how the PE partnership offered strategic guidance, operating support, and true alignment on growth goals.The Leadership Challenges No One Talks About: Sean reflects on the difficulty of maintaining culture and connection at scale, especially through the pandemic. He emphasizes the importance of transparency, weekly all-hands, and honest company-wide Q&As—even when the questions were tough.Letting Go and What Comes Next: After stepping down as CEO, Sean is still adjusting. He shares how he's staying engaged and how he’s giving himself space to figure out what’s next with no pressure.Quote of the Show:“There’s an incredible amount of time to be successful… you can enjoy it along the way too.” - Sean GriffeyLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seangriffey/Twitter (X): http://twitter.com/seangriffeyCompany Website: https://www.industrydive.com/Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #IndustryDiveChapters:00:00 Intro01:27 Key Strategies for Success at Industry Dive02:31 The Coffee Challenge: Building Cross-Departmental Relationships07:15 Maintaining Simplicity in Business Operations10:19 Co-Founder Dynamics and Roles16:34 Bootstrapping and Fundraising Journey26:09 Private Equity Partnership Experience29:00 Private Equity's Role in Scaling30:57 Navigating the Pandemic with Private Equity33:03 Alignment and Exit Strategy with Private Equity37:51 Challenges and Team Alignment47:42 CEO's Reflections and Future Plans51:03 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs58:29 Outro

What happens when a cybersecurity expert pioneers a new approach to phishing defense? Join us as we delve into the journey of Rohyt Belani, Co-Founder and Former CEO of PhishMe, who turned a simple idea into a $400 million exit to BlackRock. Rohyt discusses his unique business strategies, the importance of an employee-first culture, navigating massive challenges, and raising capital efficiently. Watch now to gain invaluable entrepreneurial insights from one of the leading minds in cybersecurity. Takeaways:Bootstrapping to Success: Rohyt discusses how he and his co-founder bootstrapped the company to $2.5 million in ARR before accepting any external funding. They leveraged their prior industry experience and personal networks to secure their first enterprise customers.Implementing Employee-Friendly Policies: The adoption of policies such as half-day Fridays significantly boosted morale and productivity among staff. Rohyt emphasizes the importance of putting employees first and how this principle was pivotal in creating a positive company culture. Transitioning From Services to Product: Rohyt talks about the challenges and learning curve associated with moving from a consulting company to a scalable product business. He highlights the necessity of balancing growth with capital efficiency and the mindset shift required to achieve this.Acquiring Enterprise Customers: The PhishMe team focused on a hands-on approach to customer acquisition, including attending numerous industry events and leveraging their expertise in cybersecurity to build trust. Expansion into new markets was approached cautiously and strategically, ensuring that initial customer wins provided a foundation for further growth.Investigated by the U.S. government: Rohyt recounts the hardships faced during a CFIUS investigation into a Russian investor associated with their private equity backer. Despite an onslaught of negative publicity and customer attrition, the PhishMe team managed to steer the company through this crisis while maintaining their integrity and focus on growth.Fundraising and Investor Relations: Initially, raising capital was a grueling process involving over 100 investor meetings to secure their first funding. However, as PhishMe demonstrated significant growth, subsequent funding rounds saw increased interest, culminating in multiple competing term sheets and better negotiation leverage.Balancing Innovation and Customer Needs: The importance of listening to customer feedback and anticipating future needs led to the development of complementary products, which significantly boosted the company's market standing and revenue. This approach ensured that PhishMe stayed relevant and valuable to its customers.Quote of the Show:“ There's probably a hundred good ideas for any given product, and you have to be able to whittle it down to say, what are the three things we're doing over the next three to six months?” - Rohyt BelaniLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohytbelani/Twitter (X): https://x.com/rohytbelaniCompany Website: https://cofense.com/Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #PhishMeChapters:00:00 Intro01:17 What You'd Do Again as CEO04:20 Challenges and Insights on Work Culture07:16 Early Customer Acquisition16:06 Fundraising Journey23:26 Product Evolution and Expansion30:15 Navigating Customer Feedback and Innovation32:40 Defining and Evolving the Ideal Customer Profile (ICP)33:45 Transitioning from Consulting to Product Company36:09 Challenges and Strategies in Scaling a Product Company41:40 Overcoming a Major Crisis: The CFIUS Investigation47:01 Life After Stepping Down: Advising and Mentoring48:55 Reflections on Entrepreneurship and Mentorship57:31 Outro

How can AI revolutionize the way we build and test software? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis sits down with Itamar Friedman, Co-Founder and CEO of Qodo, to explore the impact of AI-driven software development. Itamar shares insights on how AI can enhance code integrity, optimize developer workflows, and shape the future of software engineering. From his entrepreneurial journey to the latest advancements in AI, Itamar dives deep into the challenges and opportunities of bringing AI into software development. Takeaways:From Research to Entrepreneurship: Itamar shares his journey from studying AI to co-founding Qodo, discussing how his background in machine learning and software engineering led to his mission of improving code quality.AI-Powered Code Integrity: AI isn’t just about generating code—it’s about ensuring its accuracy and efficiency. Itamar explains how Qodo is redefining software testing by automating code validation and catching potential issues early in development.Challenges of Building AI for Developers: Unlike other AI applications, coding tools must be highly reliable. Itamar breaks down the unique hurdles of building AI that developers can trust and seamlessly integrate into their workflows.The Role of AI in Software Testing: Traditional software testing methods are time-consuming and often inefficient. Itamar discusses how AI-driven test generation is changing the landscape, making development faster and more reliable.Scaling an AI Startup: Bringing an AI-powered tool to market requires balancing innovation with practicality. Itamar shares his experience of scaling Qodo, attracting early adopters, and iterating based on developer feedback.Ethical Considerations in AI Development: With AI playing a bigger role in critical processes, ethical concerns are inevitable. Itamar reflects on responsible AI development, the risks of automation, and how companies can build AI that benefits users.The Future of AI in Development Workflows: Looking ahead, Itamar shares his predictions for how AI will continue to transform software engineering, from fully automated debugging to more intelligent coding assistants.Quote of the Show:“I'm not saying that technical people should give up on that. Actually that's our superpower.” - Itamar FriedmanLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itamarf Twitter (X): https://x.com/itamar_marCompany Website: https://www.qodo.ai Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #QodoChapters:00:00 Intro01:36 What You’d Do Again As CEO06:02 Transitioning to CEO14:27 The Role of AI in Software Development21:28 Challenges and Insights as a First-Time CEO32:21 Finding the First Customers36:57 Strong Content and Alpha Code38:22 Product-Led Growth and Sales Strategy42:08 Fundraising Journey and Investor Alignment51:57 Challenges and Vision for AI in Coding54:59 Balancing Entrepreneurship and Personal Life01:04:31 Advice to Younger Self01:07:49 Outro

How do you build a brand that resonates deeply with millions of customers? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis sits down with Nadia Boujarwah, Co-Founder and Former CEO of Dia&Co, to discuss her journey in revolutionizing plus-size fashion. Nadia shares the challenges of building an inclusive brand, navigating venture funding, and leading a mission-driven company through rapid growth and industry shifts. She also reflects on the power of community, hiring the right team, and the lessons she learned stepping down as CEO after a decade at the helm. Takeaways:The Power of a Co-Founder Relationship: Nadia emphasizes that choosing the right Co-Founder is one of the most critical decisions in a startup journey. She shares how this played a pivotal role in shaping Dia&Co and why equal economics from day one helped maintain a strong partnership.Building a Business from the Ground Up: Before developing a scalable platform, Nadia and her Co-Founder personally shopped for thousands of customers to deeply understand their needs. She explains why doing things manually in the early days was key to creating a product-market fit.Fundraising Challenges & Breakthroughs: Raising Dia&Co’s first million dollars took nearly a year, yet within 18 months, they secured over $100 million in funding. Nadia shares insights on what changed, how she navigated investor skepticism, and why the right investors can make all the difference.Scaling from Startup to Major Brand: At its peak, Dia&Co hired 600 people in a single year. Nadia discusses the challenges of leading a fast-growing organization, maintaining company culture, and evolving her leadership style to keep up with the business’s rapid expansion.The Role of Community in Brand Building: The Dia&Co customer base formed organic Facebook groups that grew into a passionate and engaged community. Nadia shares how customers turned into brand ambassadors, planned meetups, and even got tattoos to represent the brand’s impact.Navigating Major Business Shifts & the Pandemic: From industry-wide changes to the unpredictability of COVID-19, Nadia reflects on leading through uncertainty, making tough calls, and staying resilient in the face of evolving challenges.Stepping Down as CEO & What’s Next: After a decade of building Dia&Co, Nadia made the difficult decision to transition out of the CEO role. She opens up about that process, how she adjusted to life post-CEO, and what she’s exploring next.Quote of the Show:“ There's a fundamental attribute of being an immigrant that you think that the locus of control in your life is inside of you” - Nadia BoujarwahLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiaboujarwah/Company Website: https://www.dia.com/Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Dia&CoChapters:00:00 Intro01:40 What You’d Do Again As CEO08:06 Starting Dia&Co: From Idea to Execution14:38 Building a Community and Raising Funds22:52 Navigating Investor Relationships27:45 Transitioning Leadership at Dia&Co33:29 Biggest Challenge Faced at Dia&Co36:53 Growing Up in an Immigrant Family41:02 The Value of an MBA49:33 Future of AI in Apparel52:07 Advice to Younger Self55:47 Outro

What does it take to build a hiring powerhouse? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis sits down with Daniel Chait, Co-Founder and CEO of Greenhouse, to discuss his journey from software engineer to leading one of the most influential hiring platforms. Daniel shares insights on structured hiring, the importance of early-stage learning, navigating investor challenges, and how leadership evolves as a company scales. Takeaways:Defining a Clear Mission from the Start: Many hiring platforms focused on reducing administrative burden, but Greenhouse took a different approach. Daniel explains how taking the time to clarify their mission—helping companies become great at hiring—set them apart and shaped their long-term success.Creative Validation Before Building: Before launching Greenhouse, Daniel and his co-founder tested their hiring methodology through in-person workshops, using index cards to help companies structure their hiring processes. This early validation gave them confidence in their approach.Navigating the Venture Capital Journey: Fundraising wasn’t easy—Daniel and his co-founder struggled to secure their initial capital. He shares how they ultimately raised money, the challenges of pitching to 60+ investors, and why persistence is key in venture-backed startups.The Art of Hiring & Performance Management: Daniel reveals why great hiring is one of the most powerful management tools. He discusses how strong recruiting processes make it easier for leaders to build high-performing teams and remove underperformers without fear.The Evolution of CEO Responsibilities: As Greenhouse grew from a small startup to a global business with over $200 million in revenue, Daniel’s role shifted. He shares how he balances strategy, communication, and hands-on involvement to drive success at scale.Lessons from Tough Times: The COVID-19 pandemic forced Greenhouse to rapidly adapt as hiring slowed across industries. Daniel reflects on how they navigated uncertainty, supported customers, and came out stronger on the other side.Quote of the Show:“ I'm like a bazooka… it's not the right tool for every job… but there’s some problems that only a bazooka can solve.” - Daniel ChaitLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhchait/Company Website: https://www.greenhouse.com/Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #GreenhouseChapters:0:00 Intro1:28 What You’d Do Again As CEO3:10 Validating the Business Idea5:37 The Role of Structured Hiring12:41 Hiring Strategies and Challenges22:54 Scaling and Leadership Evolution25:35 Effective Communication as a CEO30:25 Adapting Company Meetings33:56 Raising Early Stage Investments37:42 Strategizing for Series A and Beyond43:17 Building a Tech Business in Early New York49:54 Biggest Challenges Faced52:52 Remote Work and Future Vision58:44 Daniel’s Background1:06:40 Advice to Younger Self1:08:49 Outro

What’s the secret to building a billion-dollar company while staying true to your values? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis sits down with Kyle Porter, founder and former CEO of Salesloft, to discuss his journey of scaling the company to a $2 billion exit. Kyle shares how "love" became the core principle guiding Salesloft’s culture, leadership, and customer relationships. He also dives into early sales strategies, navigating fierce competition, securing top-tier investors, and the creative marketing tactics that helped Salesloft stand out. Takeaways:Leading with Love: Kyle attributes Salesloft’s success to a deep love for employees, customers, and the sales profession. This mission-driven approach helped attract top talent and build a strong company culture.Building Organizational Health: Salesloft focused on creating a high-performance team on an ambitious mission. Kyle explains why prioritizing leadership development and a values-driven culture was critical to scaling the business.The Dreamforce Marketing Stunt: Salesloft hired a lookalike to impersonate Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff at Dreamforce, creating buzz and attention. Kyle shares how creative, unconventional marketing helped Salesloft stand out in a crowded industry.Navigating Competition & Outlasting Rivals: Competing against well-funded competitors, Salesloft took the long-term approach of outlasting others through superior execution, customer focus, and efficient growth.Hiring & Scaling a Leadership Team: Kyle details how he recruited top-tier executives by positioning Salesloft as a company where leaders could make an impact. He also shares how he handled the difficult reality of outgrowing early hires as the company scaled.Fundraising & Picking the Right Investors: Kyle prioritized investors who would push him to think bigger and make the company better. He shares lessons from working with top firms like Emergence Capital and Insight Partners, as well as the negotiation tactics that helped him secure better deal terms.Stepping Down as CEO & The Next Chapter: After leading Salesloft to a successful acquisition, Kyle made the decision to step down as CEO. He discusses his motivations for transitioning out of the role and how he’s now focusing on supporting his wife's dream of revitalizing Florida’s citrus industry.Quote of the Show:“ Step on the gas and learn faster than the rate of your own experience so that you can maintain your position on the mission.” - Kyle PorterLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleporter/Twitter (X): https://x.com/kyleporterCompany Website: https://www.salesloft.com/Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast For more CEO content, uncut stories, and CEO guides, visit our substack at https://notanotherceo.substack.com/ #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #SalesloftChapters:0:00 Intro3:12 What You’d Do Again As CEO10:26 Creative Marketing at Dreamforce17:18 Scaling the Executive Team20:41 Navigating Investor Relationships29:54 Building a Tech Ecosystem in Atlanta34:51 Facing Fierce Competition38:35 The Role of Authenticity in Business41:07 AI's Impact on Sales44:04 Stepping Down as CEO49:19 Biggest Challenges Faced55:23 Kyle’s Background1:00:49 Life After Salesloft1:06:02 Advice to Younger Self1:07:39 Outro

What does it take to build and scale a successful company? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis sits down with Zac Smith, Co-Founder and Former CEO of Packet. Zac discusses the importance of structured execution, hiring for passion, and balancing long-term vision with short-term execution. Whether you're a founder, leader, or aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with valuable insights on leadership, company building, and decision-making. Takeaways:The Power of a 10-Year Vision: Zac believes that thinking long-term is critical for building meaningful businesses. He explains how setting a bold 10-year goal helps guide decision-making and prioritization in the short term.Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) for Success: One of Zac’s most impactful lessons was implementing EOS to create structure and accountability within his companies. He shares how this system helped him move from gut-driven decisions to a scalable business framework.Execution is the Differentiator: Most companies operate at a 3 or 4 out of 10 in execution. Zac explains how simply executing at a 7 or 8 puts businesses ahead of the competition and increases the likelihood of success.Hiring for Passion & Curiosity: Beyond skills, Zac prioritizes candidates who show genuine interest and curiosity. He shares how small actions, like trying a product before an interview, can reveal whether someone is truly invested in a company’s mission.Lessons from Leading Through Crisis: From navigating financial challenges to making tough leadership decisions, Zac reflects on some of the hardest moments of his career, including when he and his co-founder decided to replace themselves as leaders to save the company.Building a Personal Brand in B2B Sales: In enterprise sales, people buy from people, not just companies. Zac shares how investing in personal brand-building—through speaking, blogging, and community engagement—was key to winning customers at Packet.Quote of the Show:“ I don’t need to run a 10 out of 10 for a company. Most companies are operating at a 3 or a 4. I just want to be a 7 or an 8.” - Zac SmithLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zsmithWays to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #PacketChapters:0:00 Intro1:25 What You’d Do Again As CEO3:18 Deep Dive into EOS and Its Benefits7:41 Building a Passionate and Accountable Team9:50 The Importance of Vision and Long-Term Goals13:20 Effective Interview Techniques and Identifying Passion19:57 Communicating Vision and Values29:33 Go-to-Market Strategies and Early Customer Acquisition34:38 Early Users and Initial Challenges39:22 New York Tech Scene Evolution45:25 Biggest Challenge Faced51:41 Rich’s Background1:05:49 Advice to Younger Self1:02:21 Outro

How do you build an organization that truly fights poverty at scale? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis sits down with Rich Buery, CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, to discuss his leadership journey, his experience shaping policies like Universal Pre-K in NYC, and how Robin Hood is evolving to meet modern challenges.Rich shares insights on hiring with purpose, managing multiple stakeholders, and why philanthropy needs both measurable outcomes and deep human connection to drive real change. Takeaways:Weekly CEO Emails for Transparency: Rich started sending a weekly email to Robin Hood staff every Monday morning, sharing updates on his week, priorities, and even personal reflections. This practice fosters alignment, strengthens internal communication, and helps employees feel more connected to leadership.The Power of Celebration in Workplace Culture: Robin Hood embraces celebrations, from birthdays to cultural events, to strengthen relationships among employees. Rich emphasizes the importance of fostering a connected workplace, especially in a hybrid work environment.Hiring for Passion, Not Just Skills: When interviewing candidates, Rich prioritizes one key question: "Why Robin Hood? Why now?" He looks for candidates who have a deep, personal connection to the organization's mission, believing that true passion is the most valuable trait an employee can bring.Balancing Five Key Stakeholders: Robin Hood serves five different groups: donors, nonprofit partners, policymakers, internal teams, and the communities they support. Rich discusses how managing these relationships requires tailored communication and a clear focus on measurable impact.Data-Driven Philanthropy: Robin Hood employs a rigorous evidence-based approach to funding, using data to quantify the financial impact of its programs, to ensure donor funds are invested in initiatives that create measurable and lasting change for those living in poverty.The Role of AI in Social Impact: Rich explores how Robin Hood is working to ensure that nonprofit organizations—and the communities they serve—are equipped to navigate the technological changes from AI.Quote of the Show:“ What is it about your life, your work, your vision of the world that draws you to this mission? It’s the one thing that you can’t necessarily teach or train… for any job.” - Richard BueryLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardbuery/Twitter: https://x.com/RichardBueryWebsite: https://robinhood.org/Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #RobinHoodChapters:0:00 Intro1:37 What You’d Do Again As CEO6:05 Building a Collaborative Executive Team8:56 Hiring for Passion and Mission Alignment14:31 The Importance of Storytelling and Public Speaking3:24 Navigating Multiple Constituencies34:03 Analog Solutions in a Digital World38:43 Challenges of Leading Robin Hood39:41 Fundraising and Donor Engagement43:36 Impact of AI and Technology46:09 Rich’s Background1:00:01 Advice to Younger Self1:02:21 Outro

How do you scale a company while staying true to your vision? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis sits down with Fredrik Thomassen, founder and CEO of Superside, to discuss his journey in building a global AI-powered creative services platform.Fredrik shares how he learned to think for himself as a leader, the challenges of rapid adaptation, and the impact of global talent on the creative industry. He also reflects on AI’s role in shaping the future of professional services and his belief in continuous personal development as a CEO. Takeaways:Thinking for Yourself in Leadership: Early in his career, Fredrik struggled with following conventional wisdom before realizing that not all frameworks work for every company. He shares how Superside abandoned OKRs in favor of a problem-solving approach that fosters real alignment and innovation.Evolving the Business Model: Superside has transformed multiple times, from a lean startup using chat-based task management to a full-scale AI-powered creative services company. Fredrik shares how adaptability has been key to staying ahead in a rapidly changing industry.The Role of AI in Creative Services: AI is fundamentally reshaping the creative industry, from automating repetitive tasks to enhancing high-level creative strategy. Fredrik discusses Superside’s vision to integrate AI seamlessly into design workflows without replacing human creativity.Leveraging Global Talent: Superside connects top creative talent from cities like Buenos Aires and Cape Town with leading enterprise clients. Fredrik explains why access to global talent is the real game-changer for creative work.Leading Through Crisis: COVID-19 forced Superside into “wartime mode” as they lost nearly 40% of their customers overnight. Fredrik shares how his team’s ability to pivot quickly turned a dire situation into an opportunity for long-term growth.Personal Growth as a CEO: Fredrik recently embraced executive coaching and personal development, realizing that great leadership requires constant improvement. He reflects on how acknowledging his weaknesses has made him a more effective leader.Quote of the Show:“Cultivate joy and excitement about the future possibilities as the antidote to all your fear and worry about the things that can go wrong.” - Fredrik ThomassenLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredrikthomassen/Twitter: https://x.com/f_thomassenWebsite: https://www.superside.com/Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #SupersideChapters:0:00 Intro1:04 What You’d Do Again As CEO10:19 The Evolution of Superside20:42 Global Talent and Creative Hubs24:52 AI's Role in the Creative Market30:53 Running a Business from Oslo37:43 The Impact of COVID-19 on Superside51:27 Balancing Work and Family Life55:08 Advice to Younger Self1:00:20 Outro

How do you align company success with personal growth? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis sits down with Diego Oppenheimer, the founder and former CEO of Algorithmia, to discuss his journey from engineer to entrepreneur and the lessons he learned scaling, selling, and leading a company. Diego shares his philosophy on hiring for alignment, navigating the emotional rollercoaster of being a CEO, and how he successfully positioned Algorithmia for acquisition. He also provides insights into enterprise sales, fundraising, and why finding the right investors and employees is key to long-term success. Takeaways:The Power of Finding the Win-Win: Diego explains his hiring philosophy of aligning company and employee goals. He prioritized candidates whose personal growth goals matched the company’s mission, ensuring stronger retention and culture.Managing the CEO Rollercoaster: From reassuring employees to handling crises behind the scenes, Diego reflects on the emotional toll of leadership. He shares how CEOs act as buffers, absorbing stress to keep teams, investors, and customers aligned.Early Customer Wins & Enterprise Sales Strategy: Algorithmia’s first customers came from a mix of content-driven PLG motion and conference networking. Diego explains how startups must “get on the field” to win enterprise deals.Scaling Yourself as CEO: As the company grew, Diego transitioned from closing every deal to focusing on high-impact interactions. He shares his approach to using thought leadership, content marketing, and direct customer engagement to scale influence.The Role of Investors & Board Dynamics: Not all investors provide the same value. Diego breaks down how he leveraged board members effectively, categorized investor types, and ensured expectations were aligned for mutual success.Positioning for Acquisition: Diego shares how Algorithmia’s strategic focus on machine learning deployment made it an attractive acquisition target for DataRobot. He explains how they navigated the M&A process in just 45 days.Quote of the Show:“Sometimes the worst day of your life and the best day of your life are the same day, just different hours.” - Diego OppenheimerLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doppenheimer/Twitter: https://x.com/doppenheWays to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #AlgorithmiaChapters:0:00 Intro1:21 What You’d Do Again As CEO09:01 The Importance of Team Dynamics16:00 First Customers and Go-to-Market Strategy22:41 Scaling the Business and CEO Involvement27:23 Customer Obsession and Tactical Initiatives30:43 Exclusive Roundtable Discussions32:08 Challenges with Large Customers37:17 Navigating Investor Relationships40:53 The Acquisition Journey47:29 Emotional Rollercoaster of Entrepreneurship51:10 Family Influence and Entrepreneurial Roots56:25 Current Ventures and AI Focus58:12 Advice to Younger Self1:01:47 Outro

How do you build a high-growth company while staying true to your values? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis sits down with Jindou Lee, the founder and CEO of HappyCo, a company transforming property management through innovative technology. Jindou shares his journey from graphic designer to entrepreneur, discussing the challenges of hiring and firing, scaling a business, and learning the rules of the fundraising game. He also reflects on his personal experiences, from his childhood in Australia to launching a successful SaaS company, and offers candid insights on what it takes to build a resilient organization. Takeaways:Culture & Core Values: Jindou stresses the importance of defining company values early. He shares how HappyCo identified its core values and evolved them over time to ensure they remain relevant as the company scales.Hiring & Firing with Intention: Building a strong team requires making tough decisions. Jindou reflects on his journey from hesitating to fire underperforming employees to realizing that removing a poor fit benefits both the individual and the organization.Lessons in Rapid Growth & Downsizing: Jindou explains how the company became more efficient while continuing to grow revenue, proving that success isn’t about headcount but about having the right people in the right roles.Building with the Customer in Mind: Jindou explains why deeply understanding the end user’s needs has been critical to HappyCo’s success. He shares how small design tweaks—like increasing button sizes—can make all the difference.Fundraising is a Game: Jindou learned that fundraising is a game with rules that founders must understand. He shares hard-earned lessons about negotiating terms, dealing with investor pressure, and securing critical last-minute funding.Quote of the Show:“Fundraising is a very unfair game for founders… a lot of early stage founders, myself included, we got bullied. We just didn't know we got bullied.” - Jindou LeeLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jindou/Twitter: https://x.com/jindouleeWebsite: https://happy.co/Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #HappyCoChapters:0:00 Intro1:33 What You’d Do Again As CEO6:16 Experiences Shaping Values12:31 Navigating Growth and Downsizing20:49 The Importance of Customer-Centric Design31:26 Fundraising Realities and Challenges35:04 Navigating Term Sheets and Legalities43:09 Biggest Challenges at HappyCo47:20 Visions for the Future49:44 Jindou’s Background and Upbringing53:39 Career Beginnings and Lessons Learned58:57 One Piece Of Advice59:48 Outro

What’s the best career advice CEOs would give their younger selves? In this special compilation episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis revisits interviews with incredible leaders to share their most impactful advice. From trusting your gut to embracing constraints and building resilience, this episode is packed with wisdom applicable to CEOs, leaders, and professionals at every level. Tune in to hear insights from Tom Buiocchi, Melanie Fellay, Adam Bryant, and many more as they reflect on their journeys and what they wished they knew when starting out. Takeaways:Trust Your Gut (David Politis): Trust your instincts when making decisions, whether hiring, strategizing, or pursuing opportunities. Ignoring your gut often leads to regret.No Need to Be the Hero (Tom Buiocchi): Empower your team rather than trying to carry the entire burden of success yourself. Great leaders build teams that can win together.Dream Big and Build the Right Team (Loren Castle): Give yourself permission to think big from the beginning and prioritize hiring exceptional people to execute your vision.Direction Over Speed (Ryan Westwood): Take the time to ensure your business is heading in the right direction. Rushing ahead without alignment can lead to costly mistakes.Patience and the Long Game (Ryan Simonetti): Success takes time. Commit to the process and trust that steady, consistent effort will yield great results in the long term.Speed to Resiliency (Nick Cromydas): Build the ability to recover quickly from setbacks. What once took weeks to overcome should eventually take only minutes.Enjoy the Journey (Adam Bryant): Be present and savor the process. Career success isn’t just about achievements—it’s also about appreciating the steps along the way.Be Yourself (Melanie Fellay): Speak up, share your opinions, and trust that the right people will align with your authentic self.Follow Up and Follow Through (Dan Michaeli): Persistence and reliability are essential. Always follow up on opportunities and deliver on your commitments.Find Your Rhythm (Howard Ting): Careers, like music, have rhythms. Know when to push hard and when to ease up to enjoy the journey and sustain your energy.Learn and Have Fun (Andrew Lau): Work with people you respect and focus on roles that challenge and excite you. If it’s not fun or meaningful, don’t stick with it.It’s All Going to Be Okay (Kathryn Minshew): Even in moments of failure, remind yourself that things will work out. Resilience and adaptability lead to success.The Value of Constraints (Nathan Rosenstock): Constraints fuel creativity and innovation. Embrace challenges as opportunities to build something better with fewer resources.Lead with Consciousness (Godard Abel): Develop self-awareness and adopt a conscious leadership approach to lead with ease, clarity, and impact.Chapters:(0:00) Intro(3:50) David’s Advice(7:11) Tom Buiocchi(8:58) Loren Castle(12:07) Ryan Westwood(13:48) Ryan Simonetti(16:33) Nick Cromydas(20:26) Adam Bryant(22:14) Melanie Fellay(23:42) Dan Michaeli(26:40) Howard Ting(28:33) Andrew Lau(29:17) Kathryn Minshew(30:49) Nate Rosenstock(33:28) Godard Abel(35:16) OutroWays to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #CEOAdvice

What can two wildly different exits teach us about leadership? In this episode, David Politis talks with Tom Buiocchi, a tech industry veteran with a 40-year career that spans iconic companies like IBM and HP, as well as leadership roles at high-growth startups.Tom reflects on his unique journey as a CEO, including selling ServiceChannel for $1.2 billion and handing another company back to its founder for $1. He shares lessons on building resilient teams, over-communicating during crises, and making transformative hiring decisions. This conversation is packed with insights for leaders at any stage. Takeaways:Executive Coaching as a Catalyst: Tom shares how hiring an executive coach early in his ServiceChannel tenure helped him navigate challenges, think more clearly, and ultimately become a better leader.Uncomfortable Hiring Decisions: At ServiceChannel, Tom prioritized hiring experts who challenged his thinking, leading to innovative strategies and significant growth, even though it was uncomfortable at times.Segment Until It Hurts: Tom emphasizes the importance of narrowing target markets to identify ideal customers. By meticulously defining criteria, ServiceChannel created a focused pipeline of less than 700 target companies, improving conversion rates and customer engagement.The Growth Roadmap: Beyond the product roadmap, Tom implemented a "growth roadmap" focused on pricing strategies, new revenue streams, and bundling options that directly drove business growth.Over-Communication During COVID-19: Navigating the challenges of the pandemic, Tom adopted a strategy of daily updates and regular all-hands meetings to keep his distributed team aligned and motivated.Resilience, Grit, and Luck: Reflecting on his career, Tom credits his success to a combination of skill, resilience, and timing, sharing his belief that luck often comes to those who stay in the game long enough.Chapters00:00 Intro01:33 What You’d Do Again As CEO05:15 Tom’s First CEO Experience09:05 Lessons Learned & Hiring Strategies15:08 Dealing With Competition20:13 The Importance of Target Market Segmentation26:20 Metrics and KPIs31:40 Navigating Investor Relationships34:08 The Growth Roadmap42:16 Tom’s Biggest Challenge48:20 Tom’s Background50:56 Biggest Career Impact?52:13 What Motivates You?54:28 One Piece Of Advice57:53 OutroQuote of the Show:“Fish in a pond where you know the names of all the fish.” - Tom BuiocchiLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tombuiocchi/Website: https://servicechannel.com/Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #ServiceChannel

In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David sits down with Phil Fernandez, a SaaS legend with over 40 years of experience. Fernandez is the Co-Founder and Former CEO of Marketo, which has become part of the Adobe product lineup.  Fernandez reflects on his journey leading Marketo to become one of the most successful marketing automation platforms in history. From pioneering brand-building strategies to navigating fierce competition and near-death challenges, Phil shares valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and leaders striving to make an impact in today’s fast-evolving business landscape. Takeaways:Start with the Brand: Fernandez emphasizes the importance of building a strong brand presence and engaging customers early, even before launching a product. Marketo’s success was rooted in creating a community of advocates who believed in the company’s vision from day one.Customer-Centric Leadership: Fernandez shares his philosophy of focusing entirely on solving customer problems rather than fixating on competitors. This approach allowed Marketo to foster trust and loyalty, even during challenging times.Overcoming Challenges: Fernandez recounts a critical moment when Salesforce acquired a competitor and temporarily disrupted Marketo’s integration. By focusing on customer impact, the company was able to regain their Salesforce integration.Navigating Funding Hurdles: Despite a stellar track record, Fernandez faced resistance raising Marketo’s initial funding in 2006. He recalls the perseverance needed to secure their first $1.5 million and how he and his co-founders built momentum from there.Hiring for Culture: Fernandez reflects on the importance of assembling a team that shares the company’s values. He shares the story of recruiting Bill Binch over a year-long process, ultimately creating a sales organization aligned with Marketo’s mission.Quote of the Show:“ All of our communications with the market was about customers, was about what we were seeing, how to be better, how to do better, how to think better.” - Phil FernandezLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-fernandez-6902881/Twitter: https://x.com/philf1217Website: https://business.adobe.com/products/marketo.htmlWays to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Marketo

Joining the show this week is a journalist turned executive leadership expert. Having interviewed over 1,000 CEOs over the course of his 30 year career, this guest is none other than the Senior Managing Director at The ExCo Group, Adam Bryant. Bryant shares his insights from over 30 years of interviewing leaders and exploring the paradoxes of leadership. From his framework for authenticity to understanding the "optimal band of busyness," Adam discusses what motivates effective leaders to lead and how they navigate the ever-increasing complexity of today’s challenges. Takeaways:Simplifying Complexity: Effective leaders excel at breaking down intricate problems into clear, digestible priorities for their teams. Bryant emphasizes the importance of framing challenges in a way that inspires clarity and action, ensuring everyone knows where they’re going and how to get there.The Authenticity Framework: Authenticity is about aligning how people perceive you with how you intend to show up as a leader. It’s not about oversharing emotions but about communicating your values and the stories behind them to build trust and credibility.Leadership Paradoxes: Bryant explores the delicate balancing acts leaders must navigate, such as being confident yet humble or compassionate while holding people accountable. He highlights the importance of contextual decision-making to manage these complexities effectively.OBOB (Optimal Band of Busyness): Leaders thrive when they find their "optimal band of busyness"—a balance that keeps them engaged without overwhelming or under-stimulating them. Bryant shares how this concept applies to both leadership and post-exit planning.Team Trust Building: Building trust within teams starts with vulnerability and open communication. Bryant describes exercises like leadership user manuals and storytelling to help team members see each other as human beings, fostering deeper connections and collaboration.Why Leaders Lead: Many leaders are driven by transformative early-life experiences, whether adversity, immigrant stories, or the influence of extraordinary parents. Bryant reflects on how these motivations shape leaders’ decisions and their approach to challenges.Quote of the Show:“ I always think about leadership as a series of paradoxes or contradictions or balancing acts. It's never about one thing. And I think to be an effective leader, you have to be comfortable in those paradoxes.” - Adam BryantLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adambryantleadership/Twitter: https://x.com/adambbryantWebsite: https://www.excoleadership.com/Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261 Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast #NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #TheExCoGroup